Robert Graves

The Travellers' Curse after Misdirection

(from the Welsh)

May they stumble, stage by stageOn an endless PilgrimageDawn and dusk, mile after mileAt each and every step a stileAt each and every step withalMay they catch their feet and fallAt each and every fall they takeMay a bone within them breakAnd may the bone that breaks withinNot be, for variations sakeNow rib, now thigh, now arm, now shinbut always, without fail, the NECK